Edward



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. H. HYDE.

GAME

(No Model.)

No. 484,432. Patented 0015.18, 1892.

(No Model.) 7 2 Sneak-sheet 2. E, H. HYDE. I GAME 'No. 484,432. Patented Oct. 18, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD ,H. HYDE, OF LANCASTER, WISCONSIN.

GAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,432, dated October 18, 1892.

Application filed September 3, 1891- Serial No. 404,635- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. HYDE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Grant and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Game, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to games and toys, and is, more strictly speaking, a game of billiard-croquet; and the object of the same is to produce a table which is convertible from a billiard-table into a croquet-court.

To this end the invention consists in the construction of the various elements comprising the table and used in the games that are to be played thereon, all as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated on the two sheets of drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a table constructed in accordance with my invention forms of cushions, the two, forms ofwickets with and without their coverings, and the closed sockets for the wickets and posts. Fig. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section through one of the posts and its covering. Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one end of one of the revoluble cushions. Fig. 5 is a plan View of one corner of the table with the block at the corner in section and illustrating the manner inwhich the revoluble cushions are mounted in said blocks and are held by the clamps. Fig. 6 is a perspective detail of one of the clamps.

Fig.7 is a section through a portion of the table and its stationary wooden cushion, showing the latter as I sometimes construct it and illustrating a socket in side elevation. Fig. 8 is a central vertical section of said socket. Fig. 9 is a central vertical section of my preferred form of socket and nut with a pin seated therein. Fig. 10 is a horizontal section through the body of a billiard-table, looking upwardlyat the lower end of this preferred socket. Fig. 11 is a perspective detail of another t'orm of socket, showing the table-topin section. Fig. 12 is a similar view of this form of socket and washer. Fig. 13 is a perspective detail view of still another form of socket which I sometimes use. Fig. 14 is an elevation of three forms of wickets, showing the sockets in outline in dotted lines.-

Referring to the said drawings, the letter Tdesignates the table, which may be,and preferably is, of iron, planed so as to be perfectly true and adjusted so as to stand exactly level. This table is preferably bare, although I may c ver it with cloth and also provide the upper ends of the socket-pins (hereinafter described) with cloth coverings to maintain the level of the table.

The cushions, Fig. 4, are preferably of triangular shape, comprising a core 0, having at 'its several corners cushion-faces of wood, as O, of rubber, as O, and of wood or rubber, preferably the latter, but having a scalloped face, as at F. In each end of the core is a projecting pin P, which engages a recess R in a wooden or metallic block M, one of which is located at each corner of the table. K is a spring-clamp which partially embraces the body of this triangular cushion and which passes over the side of the table and slightly under the same, and by the use of several of these clamps, as seen in Fig. 1, the cushions may be held in position with any of their several faces exposed. When it is desired to bring another face forward, the clamps are removed, the cushion moved forward, so that its pins P slide in the recesses R, the cushion revolved as desired and borne again against the side of the table, and the clamps replaced.

In Fig. 7 is shown a section of apermanent cushion, which may be employed, if desired, the cushion-face O in this case being of wood.

Obviously rubber cushions should be used with ivory balls; but if the latter are covered with rubber, as I prefer to make them, the cushions may be of wood or iron. Acushion with a scalloped face F, I consider a decided improvement over one having a plain face, for the reason that the curved face of each scallop presents a great variety of angles which may be taken advantage of by the player in making a cushion-shot. Although I have shown the face F as extending throughout the length of the cushion, obviously the scallops might be disposed at intervals, if preferred.

The balls B are preferably of iron with a covering B of rubber, although the ordinary billiard or pool balls might be used, especially with a slate table and with the rubber cushions above described; but iron balls have sufficient weight for the present game and their rubber coverings or coatings have sufficient elasticity to cause them to rebound from each other or from the cushions, post-s, and wickets described below. The size of the balls is immaterial; but they are preferably painted or otherwise marked, so that they can be distinguished from each other.

In Fig. 14 are shown three forms of wickets, any of which I may use. The letter W designates a plain wicket, whose width is slightly larger than the diameter of one of the balls, this wicket being practically the same as used in the game of croquet. W is another wicket similar in every respect to that just described, except that that part thereof which is above the level of the table is not formed simply in the shape of an inverted U, but has its sides bowed outwardly, so that its body constitutes the greater part of a circle.

The lower ends or feet of this wicket are the same distance apart as those of the plain wicket; but as its opening is larger, as will be seen, obviously a ball which would pass closely between the sides of the plain wicket could be shot with much greater ease through this bowed wicket, and hence when such wicket is used the game is rendered much more easy to play. W is a third form of wicket, which, as seen, is in the shape of a hook and is of substantially the same construction as the plain wicket W, except that one of the feet is omitted, and hence the wicket is supported at one sideonly. When this wicket is used, the game will be rendered much more diflicult than with either of the others, the reason being that unless the ball is shot straight through the wicket the latter is liable to turn on its single foot in the socket, and such turning presents constantly-changing conditions and positions of wickets which will greatly complicate the game and enhance the pleasure thereof.

In Fig. 3 is shown a post W', which may be either plain. or may have a flaring head H, so that when these posts stand the same distance apart at the sides of the wicket their heads will come close together and form a passageway of substantially the shape as that through a wicket. The wickets and posts are preferably of stout metal wire and are adapted to be seated in sockets in the table, as set forth below, and when ivory balls are used such wickets and posts are preferably covered with tubing W which may be of rubber, tough leather, rawhide, or similar material, and eX- tends upwardly from the table-top at least a sufficient distance to. be struck by the sides of the balls.

Ihe socket shown in Figs. 7 and 8 consists of a tube T, set in the table with its upper end flush with the surface thereof and its lower end T closed, except a slight orifice. Within this tube is mounted the socket-pin Q, having a reduced shank which passes through said orifice and has a nut Q on its lower end,

which nut is so located that when the pin is raised by the expansive force of the coiled spring 2 on the shank between the head of the pin and the closed end of the tube said nut Q will strike the lower end of the tube and hold the head of the pin exactly flush with the upper end of the tube, and hence with the face of the table. To replace the spring S, the nut Q may be removed, the socket-pin Q drawn out, a new spring substituted, and the parts returnedto position. Secured to the side of the tube is a leaf-spring S, of brass or steel, having at its upper end an integral inwardly-projecting stud S", having a beveled tip, which is borne by the spring normally through the side of the tube and into the interior thereof when the socket-pin Q is depressed. This leaf-spring is 'not always employed, though its use is preferable, and the lower ends of the wickets or posts must be provided with notches N to engage the studs when the latter are used. These notches may have fiat lower faces in the posts, and in the hook-shaped wickets W they are annular, so they can turn in the sockets and not disengage their notches from the studs; but obviously the notches in all the wickets must be rounded, elsethey could not be withdrawn from the sockets.

The socket shown in Figs. 9 and 10 is the form which I prefer to apply to slate tops on tables where is no possible manner of gaining access to the lower side of the table-top, and

hence where it is necessary to insert the socket from the upper face thereof. This socket consists of an inverted conical tubet, whose larger.

end preferably has a radially-projecting flange or shoulder 25, and 'whose lower end t is cylindrical for a short distance and may have a small perforation t', as shown, or may be open to accommodate the lower end of the socket-pin Q, this tube containing said springactuated socket-pin Q, as above described. Where it is possible to have access to the bottom of the table-top, the sockets shown in Figs. 11 and 12 (described below) aro'preferably used, although that shown in Figs. 7 and 8 may be employed, and such socket is supported by a bracket X, which is secured to the bottom of the table-top by screws U, which passupwardly through it into the top, as there shown; but with the form of socket now under discussion and where it is impossible to get at the bottom of the table-top, owing to the great thickness of said top or to the supports which stand beneath it, I bore through the face of said top a downwardly-tapering hole 71/, having a radially-enlarged upper end, and at its lower end I form quartering-offsets h", as seen in Fig.10, the hole and the offsets being provided with diametrically-opposite vertical grooves g, each of which opens into one end of one offset. The lower end 25' of the conical tubet is eXteriorl-y threaded, as shown, and on this thread screws a nut n, having diametrically opposite radially projecting wings a, adapted to loosely engage the grooves g. In thiscase the leaf-spring S and its stud S are preferably seated in a recess IIO cut in the body of the tube, so that no part thereof will ever project beyond the outer face of the tube, and the deeper portion of the recess at the thicker upper end of said body permits the necessary movements of the stud,

as above described. In applying sockets of this character to a table-top the latter is first provided with the hole above described, and the socket, with its contained socket-pin and with the nut n screwed partially onto its body,

is passed downwardly through the hole, the wings of the nut moving in the grooves g. A

suitable tool is then inserted in the upper end of the socket, and by engaging the tip of the stud the socket and its nut are quickly turned to the right, the wings on the nut then moving in the quartering-offsets to the position shown in Fig. 10, and thereby preventing the nut from being drawn upwardly. Further turning of the socket screws its threaded lower end through the nut in a manner which will be obvious, and this screwing is continued until the flange t" is exactly flush with the upper face of the table. The socket may be tightened from time to time, and if the slate around the socket should crumble, so that the flange drops below. the face of the table-top, the

socket may be removed and a piece of fabric or paper wound around it, so as to cause it to more tightly fit the tapering hole. Such revmoval is accomplished by unscrewing the its normal position and the face of the table is perfectly flat. If such face is covered with cloth, a hole is made therein above and concen trio with the interior of the tube and asmall circular piece of cloth is secured upon the upper end of the pin. 4

Having described the manner in which I construct the sockets that are to be applied either from the upper or the lower side of a table-top, I will now describe more particularly the exterior configuration of thesockets,

which are especially adapted to table-tops of different materials and which are preferable where the bottom of the table-top can be reached.

In Fig. 11 is shown a socket which is adapted for use with a table-top that consists of a slate face resting on a wooden base, as shown. This socket comprises a tapering body S the same as my preferred form of socket, except that the taper terminates with thethickness of the slate face, and the cylindrical lower end if is considerably elongated, so as to form a shank which extends through the wooden base. This construction permits the tapered body S to fit snugly within the slate; but as the annular shoulder S is drawn down onto the top of the wooden base such body is not wedged into the slate so as to crack the latter. Indeed this tapered body may be surrounded by a rubber conical washer S as shown in -Fig. 12, in order to avoid the cracking of the slate, the shank and the nut firmly holding the socket in place. In this figure said shank is also shown as slightly tapering, although the portion bearing the thread is of course cylindrical; but the taper of the shank is only incidentally 'shown in connection with the conical washer, as they were obviously not necessarily used in connection. The socketpin and its spring and stud, as above described, are also preferably used in connection with either of these sockets, which parts are omitted,inasmuch as the same are identically I illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings, and their application to these forms of sockets is obvious by reference to said figure. A plain not Q is preferably screwed onto the lower end 25 of this socket, as shown, or if the bottom of the top is not accessible this form of socket might be used with the winged nut at of Fig. 10.

The table is provided with anumber of the above-described sockets arranged in pairs, so

as to permit'the insertion of wickets or of posts singly or in pairs, and although such wickets, or pairs of posts which will serve the same purpose as wickets, may be arranged in a great variety of ways, according as the ingenuity of the manufacturer or of the player or the requirements of the game may direct, I preferably locate them as shown in Fig. 1, so as to form a complete and perfee; croquet-court with a single post at each on The game is played in any manner necessarily conforming with the arrangement of the wickets, and the balls are shot with an ordinary cue. The latter can be used for playing a game of billiards on the table if the wickets and posts be removed, or a game of pool by providing suitable pockets in the cushions, which pockets must be temporarily closed when a game of billiards or croquet is in progress. I refrain from giving the rules of any of these games, not only because they are well kn.own,but also because they form no part ofthe present invention,but vary according to the game played, the number of players, the amount of skill they possess, the desired length of the game, and other requirements and conditions which necessity may demand or ingenuity suggest. However, I will state that it may be preferable to require that all wickets be made by acarom shot and not by a direct shot form the cue, as thelatter would be too easy for the average player. The rubber-covered balls will caroin from each other with considerable force, and from the wickets, posts, and inelastic cushions with some force, whereas the rebound of an ivory ball would be the same from another ball or a rubber-covered wicket or elastic cushion.

In Fig. 13 is shown a plain cylindrical iron socket T provided with exterior screwthreads S, and this socket preferably contains a socket-pin, a spiral spring, and a leafspring and stud the same as the others, although they are not shown. When the tabletop is of iron or other metal,it may be bored so as to have the sockets integral with the table-top, or it may be bored so as to receive this iron socket, which has at its lower end an integral angular head A, by which it is turned with a wrench, so as to screw it upwardly through the table-top until its upper end stands flush with the face thereof.

All the devices described above may be applied to a billiard or similar table during its course of manufacture; but they are applinary construction which may be already in use. The workman, provided with the cushions, sockets, wickets, posts, tools, and perhaps balls, may travel from place to place, and, explaining what he is prepared to accomplish, may receive orders from the proprietors of billiard saloons to alter one or more of their tables so as to adapt it for croquet in the manner hereinbefore described. Such alterations can be made in a short time and without moving the table from its position. -If the table-top be thick and inaccessible from below, which is generally the case, my preferred form of socket is applied by drilling the top through its upper face with a tapering hole having the necessary offsets at its lower end. Obviously the cushions might be applied to tables which are not intended for use as croquet-courts, and, also, a table might be converted into such court and the conventional cushions left untouched. The Workman having performed the alterations of the table, leaves a set of wickets and posts with one or two extra ones, and perhaps a set of balls, (or orders all of these sent direct from the manufactory,) and seeks new fields of labor; The proprietor has then a billiard or pool table which can be converted into a croquet-court, and the expense of so making over or altering a table will be comparatively light and but little more than a convertible table would have costif ordered direct in the first instance.

What is claimed as new is-- 1. The combination, with a ball, of a table having cushions with scalloped faces, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a game apparatus, the combination, with a ball and a table, of cushions located along the edges of said table, each cushion comprising a number of faces of different shapes and different degrees of elasticity, means for permitting the turning of said cushions so as to cause difierent faces to project inwardly, and means for locking the cushions in different positions, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A billiard or similar table carrying blocks upon its corners, which blocks are provided with recesses, the edges of the table being raised and passing outside said block, in combination with cushions of triangular cross-section, each comprising a core having pins in its ends engaging said recesses and having different faces on its corners, and clamps of spring metal detachably embracing the cushions and the edges of the table, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A cushion for billiard or similar tables, the same comprising a core of approximatelytriangular cross-section and faces secured on its corners, said faces being respectively of wood, rubber, and of scalloped configuration, and means for securing said cushions to the table-edges with the desired face projecting inwardly, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The herein-described game apparatus, the same comprising a table having sockets in its face, locking devices located in the said sockets, posts and wickets removably seated in said sockets to form a croquet or similar court and adapted to engage said. lockingdevices, surrounding revoluble cushions of inelastic material, and balls with elastic coverings, as and forthepurpose set forth.

6. In a game apparatus, the combination, with a table, tubes seated therein and flush at their upper endswith the upper face of the table, and spring-actuated pins in said tubes held also normally flush with the face of the table, of wickets and posts adapted to be removably seated in the tubes by depressing the pins therein and balls of a size to pass through said wickets, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a; game apparatus, the combination, with a table, tubes seated therein and flush at their upper ends with the face of the table, their lower endsbeing reduced and perforated, pins fitting said tubes and having reduced shanks passing through said perforations, nuts at the lower ends of said shank, which when they strike the lower ends of. the tubes hold the upper ends of the pins flush with said face, and expansive coiled springs on said shanks within said tubes, of wickets and posts adapted to be removably seated in the tubes by depressing the pins therein and balls of a size to pass through said wickets, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a game apparatus, the combination, with a table, tubes seated therein and flush at their upper ends with the face of the table,

spring-actuated pins in said tubes, held also normally flush with said. face, leaf-springs secured to said tubes, and studs at the upper ends of said springs adapted to be borne thereby into the tubes when the pins are depressed, of wickets and posts adapted to be of a size to pass through the wickets, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a game apparatus, the combination, with a table having sockets arranged in pairs and locking devices located in said sockets, of posts seated in said sockets and adapted to be looked therein and having flaring heads, revoluble surrounding cushions, and balls of a size to pass between the posts and beneath their heads, as and for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination, with a table-top in whose upper face is bored a downwardly-taperlng hole having offsets at its lower end, of a socket comprising a tubular body whose exterior is conical to fit said hole and is threaded at its smaller end and a nut on said threaded end having wings adapted to engage said offsets, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with a table-top in whose upper face is bored a downwardly-tapering hole having diametricallyopposite vertical grooves and at its lower end olfsets pro ectin g horizontally from said grooves, of a socket comprising a body shaped to fit said hole and threaded at its smaller end and a nut on said threaded end having radiallyprogecting Wings adapted to pass through said grooves and engage said offsets, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with a tabletop in whose upper face is bored a downwardly-tapering hole radially enlarged at its larger end, of a socket comprising a conical body closely fitting said hole, a shoulder fitting the enlargement thereof and adapted to stand flush with the face of the table, and means for removably locking the socket in the hole, substantially as described.

13. The combination, with a table-top having a tapering hole, of a socket in the form of an inverted cone removably inserted in said hole and provided with an axial opening, the body of the socket having a recess communicating with said opening near the larger end of the socket, and a leaf-spring secured in the lower end of the socket and having a stud projecting normally into said opening, of a pin removably fitting said opening and having a notch'adapted to receive the tip of said stud, substantially as described.

14. In a game apparatus, the combination, with a table and cushions surrounding the same and having scalloped faces, of wickets rising from said table and balls of a size to pass-through said wickets, as and for the purpose set forth.

15. In a game apparatus, the combination, with a ball and a table, of cushions located along the edges of said table, each cushion being of angular cross-section and having at its corners playing-faces of different shapes and different degrees of elasticity, means for permitting the turning of each cushion, so as to cause the desired face to project inwardly, and clamps of spring metal detachably embracing the cushions and the edges of the table, substantially as described.

16. A billiard, pool, or similar table having raised edges, blocks in the corners of said edges with recesses in their two exposed vertical faces, cushions of triangular cross-section having at their corners playing-faces of different shapes and different degrees of elasticity, pins in the ends of the cushions loosely engaging said recesses, and means for looking the cushions with their desired faces inward, substantially as hereinbefore described.

17. In a game apparatus, the combination, with a socket seated in the base on which the game is played, of a wicket of inverted-U shape, one of its feet being elongated and swivelly mounted in said socket, while the other foot stands above the base, as and for the purpose set forth.

18. In a game apparatus, the combination, with a table and a socket seated therein, of a wicket of inverted-U shape, one of its feet being elongated and provided with a notch, and a catch for engaging the notch and holding this foot swivelly and removably within said socket, While the other foot stands above the base, as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDWARD H. HYDE.

Witnesses:

MARTIN OSWALD, JAMES MCBRIEN. 

